Japanese researchers have invented a way to breed hens that can lay cancer-fighting eggs with the help of genome-editing.

Just imagine if you could just eat something as regular as an egg to fight the deadly cancer?

As weird as it sounds, it is now possible to fight cancer-causing cells by eating medicated and genetically-edited eggs.

Japanese researchers have genetically modified chicken sperm that can help in breeding a generation of hens that can lay cancer-fighting eggs.

Researchers from National Institute of Advanced Industrial Science and Technology (AIST) in Japan's Kansai have use genome-editing by introducing genes that can produce interferon beta into the precursors of chicken sperm.

The researchers have altered the chicken DNA to achieve cancer-fighting eggs.

FYI: What is Interferon beta?

Interferon beta is a type of protein used in treatments for a multitude of diseases including multiple sclerosis (MS), certain types of cancer and even hepatitis.

"This is a result that we hope leads to the development of cheap drugs," Professor Hironobu Hojo at Osaka University told Japan times.

Just a few micrograms of interferon beta can cost up to 100,000 yen (888 USD), but the team eventually hopes to harvest up to 100 milligrams from just one egg.

"In the future, it will be necessary to closely examine the characteristics of the agents contained in the eggs and determine their safety as pharmaceutical products," Hojo added.

The scientists have already developed three hens which can produce medicated cancer-fighting eggs, regularly.

For cost cutting and development, the researchers plan to sell the interferon beta to pharmaceutical companies which will eventually reduce it to 10 per cent of its current cost.

However, Japan has strict regulatory processes when it comes to development of new pharmaceutical drugs so Japanese might have to wait a little longer for this revolutionary product to come out in the market.

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